He was so easily identifiable that no sleeve number was even necessary.

The silver hair, the methodical-yet-authoritative signals. A presence that earned him the nickname “God.”

Tune in to a high-profile Major League Baseball game in the 1970s or 1980s, and No. 8 – Doug Harvey – was likely to be behind the plate.

“You always respected him because he came out to his job and (did it) with a lot of class,” said Dodgers manager Joe Torre, who – in Harvey’s rookie season of 1962 – became the first player ejected by Harvey. “He was very consistent, and that’s the highest compliment you can pay anybody.”

Born March 13, 1930, in South Gate, Calif., Harvey did not umpire a game until he was 16 years old. But three years later, Harvey was asked by his father – an alternate umpire in the Class C Sunset League – if he wanted to work a series of games in Mexico. Thirteen years later, Harvey began a 31-year career in the National League when he worked third base in the Reds’ 6-3 win over Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium.

Harvey worked 4,670 games during his 31 years in the big leagues, including nine National League Championship Series, five World Series and six All-Star Games. He served as a crew chief in 18 of his seasons.

In 1974, Harvey was ranked as the best umpire in the National League by the Major League Player’ Association – the only ump to receive an “excellent” rating.

He was the last umpire hired in the big leagues who did not attend umpire school.